Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh dispute has emerged between the Kerala government and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar after the Governor rejected the list of candidates recommended by the state cabinet and instead proposed his own names for two key vice chancellor positions.
According to sources, the Governor has recommended Ciza Thomas as the vice chancellor of Kerala Technological University and Priya Chandran as the head of the Digital University. The state government had earlier forwarded different names, placing C Satheesh Kumar as its first choice for Kerala Technological University and Saji Gopinath as the preferred candidate for the Digital University.
The decision has intensified the ongoing friction between Raj Bhavan and the state government over the administrative control of universities. The government had objected to the inclusion of Ciza Thomas in the appointment process, raising concerns about her previous tenure and administrative handling. Despite this objection, her name remained on the search committee list and has now been put forward by the Governor.
This development comes while the matter is already under legal review. Earlier this year, the Governor approached the Supreme Court seeking clarity on whether the chief minister should be part of the vice chancellor selection process. The Governor argued that including the chief minister could conflict with the rules governing the two universities.
The Supreme Court has previously appointed a search committee to oversee appointments in these universities, and the final decision may depend on the outcome of the ongoing case.
There has not yet been an official confirmation on whether the Governor’s recommendations have been accepted or notified. With both sides standing firm, the appointments may remain unresolved until the court or additional government action offers clarity.
The issue highlights a continuing power struggle over higher education governance in Kerala, with both the government and the Governor asserting authority over university appointments.